This article is intended to be
a supplement to the material already presented on this site regarding the Roles.
It is by no means a comprehensive survey of the subject.

The Server

It has never been a secret in
the spiritual community that service to others is the fastest road to evolution.
It is of little surprise then that the role of Server comprises the highest
percentage of the world's population.

Servers are practical,
competent, and productive workers who perform a valuable service for us all --
they fulfill our needs. Placing the needs of others before their own, the Server
takes care of us, and in so doing, starts a domino effect that honorably assists
in meeting the needs for all of humanity.

Rarely seeking the limelight,
Servers love to work behind the scenes and inspire us on a one to one level.
They are charitable people who are quick to take on the problems of others if
they feel it will ease any suffering. Generally reserved in nature,
Servers are not prone to wild behavior or extreme exaggeration, instead seeking
those "simple pleasures for simple folks." Historically the
Server might have been best exemplified in the biblical quotation "the meek
shall inherit the earth." But possibly the greatest tribute to the
humble Server was accorded by the American composer, Aaron Copland, in his
composition, "Fanfare for the Common Man."

Excelling in any of the service
occupations, Servers make good doctors, nurses, teachers, diplomats, and have
become indefatigable workers in the retail industry. Servers instinctively know
they are gifted in the area of meeting the needs of others, and therefore can
feel frustrated if they are not allowed to serve. There is a similarity
with the King in the fact that Servers like to "control" a situation,
or be in charge of how our needs should be met. It is not unusual then to
see a Server adopt a "my way or the highway" attitude if they are not
allowed to call the shots in situations related to their services.
Frustrated Servers can become angry, or in worst case scenarios, highly
manipulative or combative if they are not allowed to control what they feel they
do best. In domestic settings, Servers will often secretly brood if their
services are unappreciated, lending credence to the stereotypes of lonely,
downtrodden housewives so often swept under the societal rug.

Generally sweet in nature and
self-effacing in their work, Servers are somewhat disengaged when expressing
emotional connections, choosing to demonstrate their love for us by doing things
that once again, fulfill our needs. For anyone who has had a Server
parent, they know that during childhood their creature comforts were lovingly
provided; dental appointments were never forgotten; a favorite refreshment or
candy bar was always waiting in the refrigerator after school; and despite
heated objections, it was a given that we could expect parental escort to social
events during those tumultuous adolescent years. Some of us might wish
such parental restrictions had not been so rigidly enforced, and this leads to
speculation regarding the percentage of children with Server parents who grew up
later to have Stubbornness as a Chief Feature. Of course, there are other roles
and combinations of overleaves that can contribute to the creation of the
controlling parent, but control will always be an issue for the Server.

Another by-product of the
Server parent is that excessive doting and attention can lead some children to
grow up thinking their needs will always be met. The well intentioned
Server can so effectively shield the child from the realities of the world that
the child later struggles in adulthood when faced with issues of
self-sufficiency and independence.

Regardless, it's important to
cherish the Server for the well intentioned work they do, and try to avoid the
natural inclination to take advantage of their services. Servers can
easily start to feel like doormats after awhile, and with their unquestioning
willingness to take of care of both our physical and spiritual needs, it is
little wonder they have so often been victimized or enslaved by the occasionally
less than scrupulous predators that enjoy preying on such noble intentions. Servers
are beautiful beings that deserve much praise and gratitude for the wonderful
contributions they give to society, and the world.

The Priest

The caring and enthusiastic
inspiration of the Priest lovingly challenges us to seek fulfillment and
evolution in our lives. Priests have an uncanny way of making us unafraid
of the things that scare us, and they help us face our fears with optimism and a
greater resolve.

Priests instinctively feel
compassion for others, and this compassion can sometimes be seen as a loving
light that seems to radiate from their faces. When a Priest gazes into
your space, it's almost as if they can see into the deepest reaches of your
soul; effortlessly reaching inside of you if they wanted, and healing
wounds you didn't even realize existed. Priests seemingly have this
natural ability to make connections with people that no other role can emulate.

Natural healers, Priests have a
special gift for channeling huge amounts of healing energy. In this regard, the
mere act of being in the presence of a Priest can sometimes be highly
therapeutic. Genuinely warm and nurturing, Priests are passionately interested
in the spiritual growth of their subjects, and can therefore be masterful in
inspiring people to step beyond their own self-imposed limitations to embrace
life more fully.

When operating from an
enlightened position, Priests are indeed beautiful people, inside and out.
With their characteristically energetic sense of mission in life, they can
inspire us to reach for ever greater aspirations and potentials. In the
Cardinal position of the Inspiration Axis, Priests are naturally at home in
front of large groups of people, and can single handedly draw a spellbound crowd
into profound levels of emotional awakening, whether it be for spiritual
enlightenment or to invade a foreign country during the Crusades.
Consequently, the Priest can also become so blinded by their talents that they
grow arrogant due to the frequent attention they receive. This can result
in the Priest irresponsibly believing their choices and beliefs are the only
right ones. Indeed, in their darker polarities, Priests can evangelize
inappropriately and without solicitation, view disbelievers as heretics, and in
worst case scenarios, distort accepted versions of reality until they enter
psychologically disturbing regions of insanity.

A high frequency role, Priests
may experience difficulty grounding. This can sometimes lead to obsessive
patterns of sexual behavior in a subconscious effort to be more in the body.
Such sexual outlets do not normally come from a place of shared intimacy, and
the other partner might soon feel frustrated. Priests can also cause
annoyance due to the high level of moral conduct they expect from others.
Righteous indignation can certainly be a by-product of this kind of behavior,
and the Priest will suffer the condemnation of their peers until they learn that
these displays of superiority are not conducive towards raising the
consciousness of their subjects.

Overall, Priests are emotional,
high spirited, and brimming with energy, and they approach life with
determination and purpose. Priests are truly on a mission. They are
usually late to bed and early to rise, and rarely does a day go by when they
don't find a way to either improve themselves or the people around them.
This can lead some Priests to become run down from the unwavering intensity of
their zeal. Although they may grow impatient with those who seem
hopelessly stuck in the self-inflicted sands of inertia, the hallmark of the
Priest is still compassion, and if we only learn to listen to their healing
words and utopian visions, that shining star that has seemed so impossible for
us to reach might one day become attainable.

The Artisan

Spontaneous, innovative, and
imaginative, the prodigious Artisan is undoubtedly one of the more creative
roles, while also being the most eccentric. Viewing life as just one big
canvas for their creative offspring, Artisans can often slip into delusional
worlds that bear little resemblance to reality. For this reason, Artisans
must stay grounded in the world, and try to avoid this natural penchant for
being a bit scattered.

With five inputs to manage, the
Artisan's focus in the world can be omni-directional, like an oscillating fan
that sends a flow of air in many directions, never diverting its attention for
too long in one spot. This has led more grounded roles to say about the
Artisan: "Is anybody home?" But the sometimes airy,
decentralized demeanor of this fluid role should not so easily be dismissed.
Artisans are very clever people who frequently use their talents to excel in the
fields of mathematics, engineering, computer programming, the fine arts,
literature, or quantum physics. In fact, in the school of Philosophy, it
was an Artisan who invented the idea of democracy.

Artisans often possess an
inventive, make-the-most-of-what's-available style of creativity that allows
them to create remarkable things out of a limited amount of resources. If
they metaphorically can't get a table out of their resources, they'll be quite
happy to get a chair, or perhaps a small toy. Artisans also have an innate
curiosity for how things are put together, from the tallest skyscraper to the
sub-atomic particle. And if they aren't applying their expressive
abilities in the sciences or the arts, Artisans can be equally content as master
carpenters, auto mechanics, or in one of the other technical fields. In
the arena of sports, it is also not surprising to discover many great baseball
players are Artisans; the geometric principles of the game seems to fascinate
them.

On an introspective level,
Artisans are often the moodiest of the roles. In a depressed state, an
Artisan can join a gathering of people and be like an ominous cloud that blocks
the sun, leaving everyone affected by the shadow. Conversely, a joyous
Artisan can almost instantly change a roomful of sour dispositions with the
magical quality of a rose that blooms in the snow; altering the ambience of the
room with enthusiasm and good cheer. Artisans can literally influence the
ambient area around them, and it seems their creative energy is not only
contained to their inner worlds, but to the outer one as well. The moody
Artisan is also the most likely candidate for being the craziest of all the
roles.

Physically, Artisans are often
described as being "cute," and typically have soft-round faces.
In his book, "The Journey of Your Soul," author Shepherd Hoodwin
describes Artisan females as "adorable or beautiful in a Marilyn Monroe
kind of way", and males are described as being the stereotypical
"pretty boy," rather than the more "rough hewn" kind of male
often associated with the role of the Warrior. Of course, not all
Artisans will be beautiful or even cute, but many of the fashion models
currently enjoying wide spread popularity are indeed Artisans.

Being an Ordinal role, the
Artisan is generally not comfortable in large groups of people, gravitating to
the intimacy of the one on one connection. Artisans greatly value their
alone time, especially when their creative juices flow and there is a new and
exciting project at hand. Artisans love their projects, and these creative
excursions can actually keep them healthy, according to Michael. A bored,
frustrated, or blocked Artisan will always find ways to be creative, even if it
means creating an interesting disease.

Day to day living is often a
bore for the Artisan, who delights in being a conoiseurre of anything novel in
life, leaving the monotonous grind of the 9-5 workplace to other roles that
crave the responsibility and inherent demands of such an existence. Often
so fiercely innovative and ahead of their time that they find themselves in
stark contrast with the rest of society, Artisans can feel out of touch with the
world, and simply drop out of circulation. Even for Artisans who
contribute and adhere to more productive lifestyles, there's often a random
sense of order in the way they focus on projects, and usually their world is
littered with a confusing array of unfinished projects, sometimes literally
strewn everywhere. Of course, where the Artisan might see this type of
system as being completely logical and ordered, other roles might be completely
baffled by this seemingly unordered approach to life.

Whether as artists, writers,
actors, craftsman, engineers, composers, surgeons, carpenters, or philosophers,
Artisans can make almost anything a canvas for their creative explorations, and
in their own unique and inventive way, their inspiration and creativity makes
the world a better place.

The Sage

Sages are the wordsmiths of the
world. They are the great communicators, and masters of verbal expression that
in a characteristically fun-loving way, awaken us to the possibility of
insight and wisdom. It's been humorously suggested that the Sage must
not only have the last word, but the last 50,000. There may be some truth
in this over exaggerated bit of levity, but as we shall learn, there is much
more to the Sage than just the proverbial bag of wind.

The Sage is truly gifted at collecting and disseminating unique information that
can make a difference in our lives. Natural performers, they have the
remarkable ability to capture our attention, and simultaneously entertain us
while they tickle our minds with valuable knowledge. Such gifts make them
superb teachers, and their unparalleled skills at communication help them
realize success as actors, authors, and speakers. Sages also have a
natural affinity for humor, and can be outstanding comedians, with a special
flair for the outrageous and the absurd.

If there is a common thread
that links most Sages, it might be their natural inclination to teach.
Although wise and perceptive, a Sage's brand of teaching need not be
formal or suffer from the stale reek of academia. Important lessons can be
taught through the use of satire, humor, or playful banter. As educators,
Sages will sometimes delude themselves into believing everything they say is
true, but if they simply remember to use the default wiring that allows them to
touch life lightly, they can be the greatest of teachers.

Sages can also excel at bending
the truth. In their darker mode, they can be masters of deceit,
manipulating and distorting the facts to suit their own self interests. Used car
salesmen come to mind, or those oily $500 an hour lawyers we just love to hate.

Humorously, in the negative
pole of Oration, Sages can be like human flycatchers, with mouths perpetually
open as they pummel their victims with an endless barrage of tornado-like
verbiage. The path of destruction left during the wake of such
Sage-inspired word rubble rarely leaves room for a rebuttal. Thus, it appears an
unwritten law in the Universe might be: Never argue with a Sage!

As revealed, Sages can be great
"drama queens." Loving to be the center of attention, Sages have
been known to occasionally throw tantrums with the histrionic intensity reminiscent
of a Messiah being nailed to a cross. It seems the consummate acting
talents of the Sage will not be denied, and this can be one of the greatest
challenges for them. Sages tend to metaphorically live life on stage,
performing and basking in the applause from their audience rather than living
with an intention to communicate and make connections with others. This
strong need for being in the public eye can sometimes be their shortcoming when
it comes to addressing the needs of others. Sometimes Sages are just too
wrapped up in their own soap operas.

Despite these shortcomings,
Sages are just plain fun, and they never cease to amaze us with their taste for
aesthetics and the artistic sensibilities they bring to all endeavors.
With their sparkling wit, theatrical flair, and a seemingly endless reservoir of
fascinating stories, Sages can entertain those around them for hours on end.
Colorful, scintillating, expressive, charming, perceptive, dynamic, and rarely
boring, Sages stand out in the crowd. Whether they choose to be outrageous or
informative, the Sage is an insightful emissary of the human condition,
masterfully bridging playfulness with wisdom. They may try to claim center
stage, but then again, the Sage has something to say.

Warrior

Productive, organized, and
grounded, Warriors are the "movers and shakers" in society that get
things done. Superb strategists and goal setters, Warriors know what they
want, and how to get it. The world is seemingly theirs to explore, and all
uncharted territories theirs to conquer.

Although as a rule they are not
excellent communicators, Warriors have an inherent sense of "street
smarts" in their wiring that makes them a perfect fit for achieving success
on the physical plane. In fact, it might have been the Warrior that said:
life is a game, you play to win."

The most physical of all the
roles, Warriors thoroughly enjoy the pleasures of earthly existence, having
strong appetites for sex, food, sports, and meeting the challenges associated
with success. Warriors are intensely in touch with their physicality, and
tend to display strong, muscular bodies, or at the very least, solid ones.
When they play, they play hard, and in physical interactions with other roles,
they must be mindful of their strength, and be careful not to accidentally
injure those around them. The instinctive drive of the Warrior will soften
as they progress in Soul Age, but their inherent love of being physical will
remain a constant.

Emotional and hot tempered at
times, Warriors can be brutally blunt and even abrasive. Their intimidating
physical presence can lead them to take advantage of the weak, and use excessive
force to get their own way. A common misconception for some Warriors is
that might makes right. They must avoid the inclination to push people
around, or like a guard dog, be unduly suspicious of those that enter their
territory.

Warriors love a good challenge,
but can sometimes waste valuable energy fighting too many windmills, and lose
the ability to discriminate between what's important. A copy of the
bestseller, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff," might be a good present for
the Warrior, but it's doubtful they would read it -- they are usually too busy.

"What's the bottom
line?" might very well be the mantra of the Warrior. They are quick
to cut through the fat of any situation and assess its merits. Whether it
be at Gettysburg or the conference room of a huge corporation, Warriors are the
fearless foot soldiers who will go to the front line in any battle; yet, they
can surprisingly have a soft side that's both maternal, and nurturing.
They are also very protective of their loved ones, and can be incredibly loyal
as a friend or spouse. In fact, as Warriors progress in maturation
and comfortably slip into that proverbial rocking chair, peacefully viewing the
world as Old Souls, their edge and instinctive drives begin to disappear, and an
earthy kind of wisdom and sweetness sets in.

The King

The Scholar

Knowledgeable, detail oriented,
and innately curious, Scholars are the librarians of the Universe. They
methodically collect, and transcribe the genetic code of existence so nothing is
ever forgotten. Like walking Encyclopedia Britannica's of the human experience,
they record life in both its positive and negative faces, teaching us about the
triumphs and failures in the world, and how we can best learn from them.

Scholars are sponge-like in the way they record the events around them, and can sometimes be
indiscriminate in the experiences they choose to absorb. The rule of thumb
with most Scholars then is they are willing to try anything at least once.
This can lead to rather unpleasant circumstances at times, but experience is the
modus operandi of the Scholar, and sometimes irregardless of the outcome, just
having the experience is considered a mission accomplished for the Scholar.

A new exploration for the
Scholar can be like a quest for the Holy Grail. Scholars are typically
unrelenting in obtaining virginal sources of information, either through the
process of intellectual inquiry or actual hands-on experience. Either way,
the Scholar will not give up until they have completely absorbed a new area of
interest, and they will continue in pursuit of these forbidden fruits of
knowledge until they have thoroughly and metaphorically tasted everything they
have to offer. For instance, some Scholars might devote an entire lifetime
to a particular study. A drug addict might indeed be a Scholar
methodically assimilating the experience and adding it to his growing library of
past life knowledge. On the surface this may not seem like the most
productive way to gain information, but for the Scholar, there is no substitute
for hands on experience.

On the downside, Scholars can
become so bookish in their approach to collecting information that they don't
speak from hands on experience, but from theory. It is of little surprise
then to find a Scholar who can write a fifty page dissertation on the harmonic
approaches used by jazz soloists, but when asked to demonstrate that knowledge
firsthand, it is discovered the Scholar can't even crack a
note on a musical instrument. It's also the Scholar who can give a lengthy
pontification on the art of hanging drywall, but when asked to assist in the
task, he might be hard pressed to even hammer a nail straight.
These are all humiliating episodes for the Scholar, and most soon learn that
vicariously collecting their knowledge through the reading of books alone is a
poor substitute for first hand experience.

Scholars are naturally
attracted to the information professions, and the growing technology that has
made the information highway so widely available lately via the Internet is an
enticing form of eye candy for them.

Normally more reserved in
expression than the other roles, Scholars possess a unique sense of detachment
that makes them excellent mediators, in addition to providing them with the
neutrality necessary to relate well with all kinds of people. Generally
non-confrontational and relaxed, Scholars are grounded and reliable. While
their obsession with sometimes useless facts can be an occasionally daunting
aspect of their personality, they make huge contributions to the collective by
fearlessly trying things others don't want to do. In an ever diligent and
methodical manner, Scholars are the very scribes of humanity.

Sources: The Message
From Michael books. By Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. The Journey of Your Soul
- By Shepherd Hoodwin. Michael: The Basic Teachings - By Aaron
Christeaan, JP Van Hulle, and M.C. Clark. The World According to
Michael - By Joya Pope. The various books by Jose Stevens, and
personal observations of family members, friends, and fellow Michael students.

Dave Gregg is a longtime
Michael student and the webmaster of MichaelTeachings.com. During the day
he works on a gazillion projects online, and at night you'll find him at a local
jazz club playing the saxophone.